Mexican Retablo and Ex-Voto Art

The retablo is an art form that flourished in colonial Mexico, reaching the height of its popularity in the latter part of the 19th century. Painted primarily by provincial, untrained artists on inexpensive materials such as copper, tin, and wood, these small works depicted scenes using symbolic, allegorical, and religious imagery. Often unsigned, retablos were sometimes commissioned by individuals, but were most frequently sold by peddlers door to door or at churches during festivals. Figures on retablos are depicted in such a way that holy persons and saints are identifiable from their costumes and attributes. A three-quarter view is almost always used to depict a holy person. The remaining imagery is usually shown in size according to a hierarchical scale of importance.

A similar form, “ex-votos,” are devotional paintings which offer thanks to a particular saint in the form of a short narrative. The origin of the term is Latin, and means “for solemn vow or promise.” An ex-voto painting is typically comprised of three elements: a scene depicting a tragedy or someone with a grave illness or injury, a depiction of the intervention of a saint on behalf of the afflicted, and an inscription describing the tragic event and which gives thanks for the divine intervention.

We have been working to add a selection of this popular art form to our website shop. Many of our pieces are vintage and some are even antiques. Check back for more offerings, or to inquire about availability, call us at 215-925-0193 or follow us on Instagram for our most recent acquisitions.

Product categories

Julia Zagar and her husband, the famous mosaic artist Isaiah, established Eye’s Gallery in its current location on South Street in 1968. Sparked by their love for South American folk art, Eye’s Gallery has expanded into three floors of eclectic, handpicked items from around the world. More